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Avatar universal

Wife HSV positive, I'm not - what to do??

Hello,

My wife and I (just married) recently got tested for STDs - neither of us had symptoms of a Herpes outbreak at the time and neither of us have had any sort of lesions in the past.

She took a HSV 1 IgG, Type specific test and tested positive (the comment was "high" and the "score" was 3.4). For the HSV 2 IgG, Type specific test, her result was positive but was at the low end of the spectrum (the score was 1.2).

My IgG tests were negative.

My questions are the following:

1) How accurate are these tests?
2) If not, what is our best course of action? How worried should I be that I may get infected, given that she hasn't had any symptoms in the past?
6 Responses
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239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The bottom line here is that you and your wife should have no worries about HSV infection.  Neither of you has genital herpes.  The big question is my mind is why testing was done to start with.

About HSV-1:  Your test is positive.  Half the population has HSV-1.  Most likely you have an oral infection that goes back to your childhood.  If you're not having symptomatic recurrent cold sores, it probably never will happen.  This probably is not a signifciant healt problem for you or your wife and never will be.

About HSV-2:  Although technically results over 1.1 are positive, the majority of persons with results of 1.2 are not infected.  Most people who have HSV-2 have results over 3.5.  If you like, this could be sorted out by repeat testing, either with a Western blot test or with the BiokitUSA HSV-2 test.  Ask your provider about them.

But even if your wife has HSV-2, what does it matter?  If you were to get infected, most likley you woiuld never know it, since most infections are asymptomatic.  And if you get symptoms, effective treatment is available.  With or without symptoms, no serious health outcomes are likely to occur.  Research shows that the main thing fearful about genital herpes is the problem of transmitting it to a new partner.  But in a newly married, monogamous couple, that's not an issue.  So while you are waiting for confirmatory tests in your wife, you really shouldn't be worried about this. She probably doesn't have HSV-2; but if she does, it should not be any big deal for you or for your sexual relationship.

I think that answers both of your questions.  Bottom line:  She could get confirmatory testing if you like, but I really don't think it is necessary.  All is well.

Regards---  HHH, MD
Helpful - 1
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the thanks.  I'm glad it helped. That's why we're here.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks again for the feedback and your patience while answering this question. Your response was very helpful for me and I am sure that my wife will feel the same way.
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Waringblender is mostly correct, although the chance you would be infected might be lower than he suggests.  Over decades of sex, kissing, and living together, you could be infected.  But most likely it won't happen.  After all, your wife probably has been infected since she was a young kid, and how many people has she kissed in that time?  Or shared eating utensils, pop bottles, or drinking cups?  And how many of those have caught herpes?

Second, what would it matter if she infected you?  You would just join the 50-60% of the population that has HSV-1, perhaps without symptoms.  And even if you catch genital herpes from oral sex, genital HSV-1 infection usually isn't a big deal, with few recurrent outbreaks.

Another simple fact:  The statistics of HSV-1 (half the adult population, half not) tell you that in half of all heterosexual couples, one person has HSV-1 and the other does not.  Does your wife think half of all couples go through their marriagies worrying about HSV-1 transmission?

Please show your wife these responses.  There really is no cause for her to be worried about this.  Take common sense precautions, i.e., if she develops symptoms of recurrent herpes (probably oral), it would make sense for you to not be directly exposed untl healing is complete.  Otherwise don't worry about it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
She could infect you with HSV1 orally, but do you plan on never kissing your wife? This isn't something you should be worrying about contracting. Obviously, if she has overt oral symptoms (like a cold sore), she should refrain from kissing you or performing oral sex on you. Other than that, this just isn't something to be concerned about. Eventually, she may end up passing it to you anyway, in which case you won't have to worry about it anymore. Sorry to sound so blase about it, but HSV1 is pretty much unavoidable for the majority of the population.

LIke the doctor said, it's likely she may not even be  infected with HSV2.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the response. I'm really not that worried about it but I know she is freaking out about passing it to me.

To answer your question, we got the tests because she was experiencing pain while urinating and she thought it may have been something sexually transmitted. Once she tested positive we figured that I should get tested as well.

Isn't it true that, even if she is asymptomatic, I could end up with oral lesions from getting infected with type one? That would be my one concern.
Helpful - 0

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